Bidspirit auction | Unprinted Hadran in the Handwriting

Unprinted Hadran in the Handwriting of Rabbi Reuven Zelig Bengis, from his Early Years * Four-page composition in the handwriting of the prodigy Rabbi Reuven Zelig Bengis, the beloved disciple of the Netziv of Volozhin, who famously said of him that he was “a living Shas.” The composition contains a Hadran for the siyum of Mishnayos of Seder Nashim and for the Alfasi on Maseches Gittin. At the conclusion of the third page, he writes: ”All this was done at first glance”… The Hadran is dated at its beginning: ”1893, Shveksna” — from the days of Rabbi Bengis's youth, when he was about 30 years old, living in the home of his father-in-law, the Av Beis Din of Shveksna, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Hirsch Broda. To the best of Zaidy's knowledge, the Hadran has never been published. As is well known, the 'hadranim' are the unique hallmark of Rabbi Reuven Zelig Bengis. His series of sefarim Leflagos Reuven are not arranged in the form of standard essays or Shu”t, but rather in the brilliant style of hadranim that combine with immense pilpul, the conclusion of one maseches with the beginning of another. Before us is another Hadran of his, which has never yet been published! Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis (1864-1953) was an outstanding genius from his youth, and proficient in all areas of Torah. He was a disciple of the Netziv of Volozhin and Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk. He served as Rav in the cities of Bodki, Kalvaria, and Smolensk. In 1928 he immigrated to Eretz Yisrael, and served as the Ga’avad of the Eidah HaChareidis from 1949 until his passing. Shveksna, 1893. [4] pages in the handwriting of Rabbi Reuven Zelig, plus two blank leaves. Size: 18.3x22.8 cm. Condition: Fair, with tears, wear, and stains in the margins.